Profiling and identification of television viewers
In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes monitoring a plurality of actions and inactions with video controls of a particular viewer during a first session, wherein the plurality of actions and inactions form a session profile that represents the particular viewer's short-term viewing habits; correlating one or more session profiles that have similar category values to create a signature profile having signature categories that represents the long-term viewing habits of a particular viewer; and matching a new session profile with an existing signature profile to determine a particular viewer for targeted advertising purposes.
1. A computer-implemented method of identifying a particular viewer, the viewer interacting with a receiver, the method comprising:
starting a first viewing session based on powering on of the receiver;
monitoring and storing a plurality of interactions with video controls of the particular viewer during the first viewing session;
ending the first viewing session based on powering off of the receiver;
summarizing at least a portion of the plurality of the interactions to determine values for session categories of preferred programs, preferred networks, and viewing duration and storing the determined values in a new session profile that represents the particular viewer's short-term viewing habits;
accessing one or more existing signature profiles, each of the one or more existing signature profiles created by correlating a plurality of prior session profiles that have similar category values and each signature profile having signature categories that represents the long-term viewing habits of a respective viewer; and
matching the new session profile with one of the one or more existing signature profiles to determine a particular viewer for targeted advertising purposes.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a new signature profile for a new viewer when the new session profile does not match an existing signature profile.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of matching a new session profile includes comparing the session category values with the signature category values.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the matching signature profile is identified without determining an actual identity of the particular viewer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein targeted advertising purposes includes delivering advertisements to a device that is displaying the video being viewed.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the session profile and the signature profile identify viewing habits that determine a plurality of advertisement categories for a particular viewer.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the session profile and the signature profile include a plurality of demographic categories for a particular viewer.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of demographic categories is assigned values based upon application of heuristic rules.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of demographic categories is assigned values obtained from geodemographic data associated with distinct ZIP+4 geographies in which the particular viewer is located while viewing the video.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of demographic categories is used for targeted advertising purposes.